Page 6 - November 2016 Thoroughbred Highlight
P. 6

Joint: Anatomy, Pathology
and Physiology by Dr Gordon Chang, PhD
The anatomy of a typical joint, as seen in the  gure below, consists of two bone surfaces which are lined with a cartilage layer. Between the two surfaces there is a thin  uid layer which is the synovial  uid. The synovial  uid lubricates the joints and keeps them moving freely. The muscles attach to the bone by tendons and in many joints there are also ligaments that connect bone to bone. Contrary to popular belief, joints are not static structures. There is remodeling and repair of joints and tissue around the joints. For example: (1) The synovial  uid is constantly being broken down and replenished by the body. (2)The cartilage surfaces are constantly being eroded due
to normal wear and tear and rebuilt. (3) The muscles, tendons and ligaments are constantly being torn and repaired. (4) The bones are also being broken down and repaired on an ongoing basis.
Joint injury can be caused by damage to the cartilage, tendons, ligaments, muscles or even the bone. The  rst response is usually pain sometimes followed by swelling of the injured area. On many occasions there is only pain with no swelling. Both the pain and the swelling are caused by in ammation. In order to control pain, the in ammatory response must be controlled. Non-Steriodal Anti-In ammatory Drugs (NSAIDs) are the usual choice. However, NSAIDs are known to cause stomach ulcers which occurs very frequently in the equine athlete.
Many typical equine joint products contain Glucosamine Sulphate or Glucosamine Hydrochloride with Methyl sulfonyl methane (MSM) and Chondroitin Sulphate. Glucosamine Sulphate and Glucosamine Hydrochloride provide a Glucosamine which
has to be converted biochemically in the body to produce Galactosamine, which is then used as a building block to produce cartilage tissue. In the
body all of the Glucosamine is the D-isomer. Many joint products currently being sold contains DL- glucosamine. DL-glucosamine is approximately 50% D-glucosamine and 50% L-Glucosamine. Since all
of the Glucosamine in the body is in the D-form this implies that for every 1000mg of DL-Glucosamine
the body is only getting 500mg (one half) as a
usable glucosamine dose. Omega Alpha uses D-Glucosamine exclusively in their joint products.
For the equine athlete Chondroitin Sulphate is not necessary.
There have been many studies which have shown that Chondroitin Sulphate is not absorbed by horses. Chondroitin Sulphate is produced from animal tissue and horses do not have the enzymes in their digestive tract that can break down chondroitin.
MSM provides the body with methyl groups and also sulphur in a biochemically active form. These
2 ingredients are important in the biochemical production of natural anti-in ammatory compounds in the body such as Glutathione.
Both Glucosamine and MSM have no natural anti- in ammatory properties. In any type of joint injury, muscle injury, muscle tear, or with stressed ligaments and tendons there is an in ammation component which must be controlled. In ammation is useful because the in ammatory process gets rid of dead and damaged cells (tissue). However, in ammation also attacks and damages healthy cells. The
healing process is a balancing act of matching the in ammatory (damaging) process with the rebuilding (repair) process. As the in ammatory process decreases the rebuilding process gains ascendancy and full healing occurs. So in any joint product the presence of an anti-in ammatory is de nitely an integral component.
Continued Page 8
Thoroughbred Highlight - Page 6 - November 2016


































































































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